Beverly-Anne

MF Romance

Two mature people on the rebound from the problems of life. They find each other through a desk top online Singles Dating site and within minutes of posting they hit it off.

1.

Beverly-Anne De Greers got out of her car at the shopping center parking lot checked herself over one last time to assure she was still presentable. Her daughter, 12 year old Lesley got out from the car looking at her mother.

"We there, Mom?"

"Yes, dear. And I think that is him there by the steps."

Lesley wondered why her mother insisted on dragging her along on this "date" she was having with a strange man. When she saw Paul Hanson she had second thoughts.

No wonder Mom was so anxious to meet this guy – I would've been too.

Beverly took her daughter's hand to cross the parking lot to meet Paul Kelly Hanson at the Starbuck's Coffee and Sandwich Shop at the Hill Crest Shopping Mall. Paul straightened up from the railing at the stairs when he saw Beverly and the girl cross the parking lot toward him.

Paul and Beverly connected on a singles dating site. He never thought it would work; however to his surprise she answered him back. They e-mailed each other with small notes during the week eventually led to exchanging phone calls, now, after several weeks she was meeting him face to face.

They posted pictures of each other on line which helped soften themselves up leading to the meeting. They were attracted to each other within minutes of posting their pictures and profiles on the singles web site. Paul liked what he saw in Beverly from the pictures she posted. Today, for their first meeting and "get to know you" she was nicely attired in a white sateen blouse and skirt and sensible shoes. The girl nearly mirrored her mother. Beverly smiled as she spotted Paul, waved to him. The girl held close to her mother as they approached the man.

Beverly liked what she saw in the man, he was right when he said he was very conservative. Paul was in blue blazer, gray slacks, pull-over button down shirt and western hat.

"Beverly," he said greeting her, taking his hat off. Then he greeted the girl: "Lesley."

"Paul." Beverly made it a statement as they shook hands.

Lesley thought: First impressions … but what's he really like?

"Coffee?" he gestured to the door.

"Definitely."

They got a table on the far side of the room and Paul ordered the coffee for them and a chocolate drink for the girl.

She looked at his coffee and grinned. "I guess you do like your coffee strong and black."

"What did I usually refer to it as?" he asked sipping the hot black liquid.

"Mmm, if I recall, tankers coffee?"

Lesley blanched. Her mother told her what Paul said in the e-mail. Uugh.

Paul nodded his head with a smile. The ice was broken and they talked, getting to know each other. Two cups of coffee and another chocolate for Lesley they left.

The girl listened to them talk, occasionally Paul directed comments to her, including her in some of his remarks. She wasn't treated as a total stranger.

Paul and Beverly decided to go over to the park where they could sit and talk some more. Lesley sat on the park bench close to her mother as she talked with Paul. After an hour they drove over to the mall. Paul's agenda was to find out what Beverly was like and the things she looked at and chose to buy. They didn't buy much, just looked, but it also gave Beverly an idea what Paul liked and disliked in woman's cloths. She pretty much got the idea what he was like from the way he dressed in a conservative manner.

Looking in the windows of the women's shops, Paul imagined Beverly in certain outfits. Some of the lingerie brought a blush to Beverly's face and a smile to Paul.

Lesley was beginning to enjoy herself watching the two – like two kids on a date.

They walked from one end to the other, looked in most stores, some things they liked, some things they both agreed were too pricey or not for them. The shopping spree told them what they would be like.

Paul noticed it was getting on to noon time. Lesley was tugging in her mother's sleeve. "Mom, I'm hungry."

"We'll get something," she assured the girl.

Paul pointed to the food court. "We'll stop there."

They found an empty table, Beverly and Lesley occupied the table. Lesley watched as Paul walked up to the counter to make their order.

Beverly watched as Paul walked away from the table. "Well, what do you think so far?"

Lesley shrugged. "Okay." She thought a minute then asked: "You interested in him?"

"I could be. I mean, one day is not a life time. There's still time for mistakes, problems, and a lot of thinking."

Lesley raised her head in understanding. This was all new to her just like her mother's divorce from her father. Now she knew she'd see men in another light, would they be interested in her mother as a life time partner? What would she do in the mean time?

Paul brought the steak sandwiches and sodas back to the table. The two talked, Lesley ate her sandwich and listened to the two. She knew not to say anything, just listen.

2.

Monday morning Beverly's cell phone beeped. The text message appeared. Good morning, Bev. Paul. Lunch?

Beverly texted messaged back: Perfect – Where?

Since we actually work close to each, how about meeting me at my facility?

Lesley walked into her Mother's room brushing her hair. She looked at the cell phone. "Paul's texting you now?"

"He's been texting for the past month."

The girl raised her brows in thought. "Like two teenagers…"

Beverly smiled. Just the beginning.

Eleven o'clock Beverly drove the short distance from her facility over to Luthron. Found a parking space then texted Paul she was there. He texted her back: Come on in. Security is expecting you.

She hurried across the parking lot to the front entrance. She passed through the security levels. Paul was waiting by the lobby security desk.

"Sign in and we'll eat here in the cafeteria."

Beverly signed the register, even though she had a security pass from her company, she was still issued a temporary pass to the cafeteria. Luthron was notorious for its tight security and employee background checks.

He took her hand and led her back to the cafeteria and the serving line. Peggy didn't even look twice as she served them. "Bona appite`, Paul. Ma' am, here you are – okay, Dave – Maryann …"

They got the rest of their meal and went through the cash register line. The cashier, a young girl took Paul's proffered credit card and ran it as she had done several others before his. Beverly watched as the girl greeted the couple behind them. Paul led her to a table on the far side of the dining room.

"I usually go out to lunch," she said as they faced each other across the table.

"Most times I do to. But I decided Luthron is close to your facility and save a bunch of useless running around."

They ate and talked a bit, Paul sitting with his back to the battery of TV sets.

Beverly drove back to her facility thinking for the moment. "He seems interested in me. I like him. There seems to be possibility there,"

Four-thirty Beverly walked through the front door. Lesley was scrunched down on the sofa watching TV.

"Okay, Mom, fess up … how was he?"

Beverly closed the door. "How was who?"

"This Paul guy? You had lunch with him."

She kicked her shoes off by the front door. "He was okay."

Lesley followed her Mother back to the bed room. "Okay? Okay in what way?"

Lesley flopped across the neatly made bed.

"You're inquisitive all of a sudden."

She began to undress and change into her favorite sweats and flip-flops.

"Well if he's going to be my step-father I need to know something about him too."

Beverly started toward the door. "Oh – okay young lady, just because I've had three dates with Paul doesn't make him your step-father yet."

Lesley knew she was on a roll with her mother. "Ah, but the possibility …"

"Enough…!"

They continued to get to know each other. During the nice days they brought their lunches and met at the park near the different professional campuses. Their co-workers and supervisors noticed a change in them.

Certain occasions Paul sent Beverly flowers at work. He did not ignore Lesley, he gave her small presents as well to let her know she was part of their plans too. The girl was surprised by the offers, and each one was something she could use and show off to her friends.

3.

Paul sat back at his computer, the radio playing smooth jazz in the background. His

cats lay on the desk; the mail had hit the floor long ago. All else was forgotten as he thought about Beverly. He loaded her pictures to his desk top and laptop computers.

He felt distracted now as he thought about Beverly. "I'm like a teen ager with my

first girlfriend. I can't think, sleep – do anything but think of her. God she's beautiful, desirable, and witty."

They had been on several dates already. A few times on a Saturday he included Lesley in their plans. Occasionally they visited each other spending the day at the others place. One chore he took on that summer was her lawn.

Lesley observed from the side as their "dating" progressed. Yeah, they're in to each other. As they say – sparks are flying.

Paul paced around his apartment for a few minutes before sitting down in front of his computer. He rested his fingers on the keyboard then thought about what he was about to do.

"Naw, she's libel to consider that sexual harassment and stalking. Better not. I'll wait until tomorrow."

Beverly looked at her e-mail account and the cell phone. She felt like she was anticipating her first date when she turned sixteen. She still remembered the firm talking her Mother gave her about some boys only took girls out for one thing – to get what they could out of them then dump them.

She knew Paul had to keep cell phones on in case something happened at night at the facility. She wondered which to send the message on – IM or the cell phone. She decided on the cell phone.

Beverly picked up the phone tabbed to the text message mode and began tapping out the message. She smiled to herself as she tapped the message out.

`Evening, hone, I was hoping to hear from you tonight. Busy?

She could feel a pair of eyes staring over her shoulder. Lesley was staring over her shoulder at the cell phone. Lesley took a sip of her soda. "You need to juice that up a bit, Mom. I mean if you want to catch this guy, you need to give him something to think of you by."

"I'm doing just fine my way."

Lesley rolled her eyes. Setting the soda on the end table she took the cell phone out of her Mother's hands. "Here, Mom let an expert handle this for you."

"And you're an expert?"

As she began texting Paul the rest of the message in her own words, she said: "Remember the night Bobby Johnson showed up over here?"

"How can I forget? By the way, what are you saying there?"

Lesley held the phone out her mother's reach. "Ta, ta, Mom. I'm just helping."

Would you like to get together again for a brief time, hon since tomorrow is a three day weekend?

Beverly stood up to see what the girl was tapping out on the keyboard.

Since I don't have to work tomorrow we can spend the evening at my place.

"What are you saying?"

Lesley quickly pressed the send button and the message was gone. "Like I said, just helping. Don't be surprised when he shows up he'll have half the police, sheriff's deputies, and highway patrol after him. Ta."

She gave the phone back to her mother.

Beverly stood there with her mouth hanging open then laughed lightly thinking what Lesley texted Paul. Her cell phone beeped. Lesley was standing out of sight close by when the phone beeped.

"What'd I tell ya?"

"Oh, phoo, go on." Beverly read the brief text. Be there.

Lesley rushed back in to the room, grabbed Beverly's wrist to turn the phone so she too could see the message. "Told ya."

Beverly looked toward the door as if she could see Paul knocking at the door now.

Lesley speed-dialed a number on her cell phone. "Jill, Les, your Mom cool with me comin' over tonight for a slumber party or just sleeping over?"

There was a brief pause then her friend was back on the phone. "Yeah come on."

Lesley ran to her room grabbed her sleeping bag, stuffed a few things in a back pack and headed to the door. "I'll be at Jill's if ya need any advice."

"Go!"

Beverly had to do something quick before Paul got there.

Lesley jogged the two blocks to her friend's house. "Got them. If I left it to Mom she'd be a shriveled old lady before she hoped into bed with this guy. I did them a favor getting them together. I knew what I was doing…"

Beverly rushed back to her bed room to quickly change. No time for a shower. She stripped tossing everything into the closet. She dabbed perfume on her neck and chest then pulled out a long black silk night gown and peignoir slipping that on over the gown leaving it to hang open. She fixed her hair as best she could. Last item to complete the ensemble was the black patent pumps she usually wore to work.

Lesley and her friend Jill ran up to Jill's room, the two girls giggling.

Jill's Mother watched the two girls disappear up the stairs. She looked over at her husband asleep in his chair. It was a Friday night and this is usually where the week ended before it started. "So much for a sex life," she considered. "Jill probably has more sex in one weekend then I have in a month."

Jill peered out her bed room door looking for her younger brother who was in the family room with his face glued to a video game. She closed and locked her door. "How did you get out of the house tonight?"

"Not hard," Lesley told her as they flopped across the bed. "Mom finally couldn't resist texting this guy she's interested in. Well her message was so-ooo lame, it was drier then the Sahara desert. Sooo-oo I spiced it up for them. I invited Paul over for the night."

"OMG! You!" Jill began to laugh. "And …?"

"So if they end up in bed together, great. That's their business. I just – what is that saying? Planted the seed for them." Lesley allowed a smirk to crease her lips. "They're in to each other. I found out they have lunch together at Luthron's cafeteria at least three times a week. I found a text Mom forgot to erase from her phone from Paul to have lunch together." She rolled on her back, then said in a serious tone. "It's obvious they're in to each other. And so like Cupid, I'm helping them along."

Jill was laying on her back laughing. "You are sooo bad, girl. OMG, I ever do anything like that I'd be grounded for a year!"

4.

Paul pulled in the driveway of the neat two story house. Shutting the lights and engine off he drew in a deep breath picking up the boutique of flowers from the car seat beside him, he was able to get them at the supermarket. Fortunately the flower lady was still there closing up the florist section. She took his last minute request with a smile. Not many customers come in this late for flowers without a reason. Next stop the liquor store for a bottle of wine.

He got out, closed the door with a click. He wanted to assure this would be a surprise. He walked up to the door, rang the doorbell. Within minutes it was opened. A smiling Beverly opened the door. Paul felt his heart do a flip when he saw Beverly in the sheer black gown and matching peignoir.

"Um, here, Bev, honey, I – bought…"

She smiled as she accepted the flowers from him. She stepped back a pace as Paul stepped in to the room. "Here." She took his jacket laying it aside. Then to her surprise and excitement, they embraced.

"It's been a long time coming."

Paul stood back from Beverly. "Bev. I haven't said this – yet, but I love you."

"I love you too, Paul."

Those words echoed through their lives for the next ten years of their time together.

4.

Lesley held Paul up at the grave side service as the Priest said the final words. Paul visibly cried as his beloved Beverly was laid to rest. Lesley finally led Paul from the grave side to the limousine.

The driver had seen this scene too many times. People are distraught when they lose a loved one. He helped Lesley put Paul in the limousine. They drove back to the funeral home where Lesley got Paul in to his car; she got the keys from him to drive them home.

Lesley drove across town back to the house – the house Paul and Beverly built. They were a loving and caring couple. Inside she set Paul down on the sofa. She held herself together long enough to make it home. She sat down beside Paul, put her arms around him then broke down crying.

Together they cried for their loss.

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